The Iola register. [volume] (Iola, Allen County, Kansas) 1875-1902, 1887-12-23

bear roamed at will. The lynx. the wolver-
inc and even the wolf prowied in security.
The Indian trelIbled but little at the men,
ton of the white man. There were no ears
to listen to the roar of rivers or the wild
screams of the owl by night. The north
winds swept down with maelstrOms of cold
SHOWS which lay white and clean until the
mild breath of the south converted them
into foaming torrents which fled out on tho
broad Ontario. Only block house or
primitive fort at the mouth of the Oswego
river foretold a coming civilization.
The pioneers penetrated the region at last
and settled in the forest, some along
the beautiful Oswego river and some by the
Big and Little Salmon rivers. 1t was on
the banks of the latter that the Smith family
settled, father, mother and five children.
There was a graceful bend in the Little
Salmon where the rude log hut was located,
high on a hill A great forest of naples,
beech and hemlock enveloped the country
in all directions. A continuous grove Of
chestnut trees formed the riparian foliage.
The father and sons battled with the big
trees and left their proud forms every where
sprawiing on the ground. At night the Gu
tire family piled the torch to rid the earth
of the debris and hasten the progress Of o
square mile of cleared ground for cultivation.
The first denuded acres were hastily ap-
propriatcd to corn and potatoes, that the
family might not starve during the follow
ing winter. Another acre was as rapidly
fenced in for the use of his majesty. the hog.
The contented little group knew that nothing
but corn-meal. potatoes and pork would COM
prise the daily bill of fare for the next
several years.
1t was amid this noble environment but
in humble cabin that Mary Smith, the ED
est child toiled by day and dreamed at night
of her lover, far away in Wcstchester Coun-
", from whence the Smiths had migrated.
1t is unnecessary to pause and tell the story
of this family, how it was reduced to pow
crty by the theft of old Tr nifty Church at
New York City of all its inheri ance; how,
Gespairing of securing fortune in the East
it had shouldered the axe of the pioneer and
cnigrated West"
Mary had acquired a good education be-
fore she became pioneer, and, had it not
been for her sweetly contented disposition,
would have felt bitterly the contrasted Cir
cumstances of her new life. She was brave
and her dark gray eyes flashed sweetness
and courage on the neighborly pioneer
young men, who came long distances occa-
sionally. for the purpose Of seeing the fash.
She cared for none of these and bantered
them for leaving the axe to rust. the eel to
escape the spear and the deer to fee to Sc
questarcd haunts. They, with bashful gal
lantry, assured her of objects in life far
worthier of pursuit, beside which the moon
lost its loneliness and the sun was eclipsed.
She was beautiful forest maid.
Poets have sung of eyes that were blue,
hairs that We're golden. that. after all, hid
hearts that were like rubber balls which
one pinches only to see return to rotundty.
Novelists have pictured superb forms and
faces that went hand in hand with indiges-
ton and billion sness. Sculptors have i'm
mortalized themselves by modelling exQui-
site and blooming maids whose organs Of
digestion are ruined with corrections and
creams. Mary Smith was somewhat like
your thoroughbred Kentucky horse-sound
in limb and wind. She YVES, as might be
presumed, perfect in physique and vital
functions, and the forest air painted for her
cheek which the peach envied and COM
plexion which no cnterprising Ayers, with
testimonials from Potters and PATHS, could
rival with artificial patents.
Young men came and went away. but
Mary awaited her lover to whom she had
promised her band IN marriage the follow
ing Christmas. When winter at last ap-
preached the corn was not plentiful in the
bin. the potatoes seemed meager for a faml-
IL of SIX, and the porkers had to be reduced
in number to furnish q little ready capital
The prospect was not inviting for long
winter. Mary. with the perfect faith Of q
lover even. could not forget that there were
no means of communication in those days,
and that Sam Houston, far away in West
chester County, had sent no word since his
departure OF course he would not fail to be
on hand if it were possible. But could he
find his way up the Hudson and Mohawk,
through the vast forests to her lonely home!
Sometimes she covered her face with her
hands to hide the picture Of his form buried
In the SHOWS in an unmarked grave, or
floating down the river into which he had
stumbled at night She knew he would
make the attempt to reach her. but was it
possible for him to succeed! After all she